UNC-Wilmington and Medidata Announce Partnership

NEW YORK, N.Y. and WILMINGTON, N.C. – Medidata, the leading global provider of cloud-based solutions for clinical research in life sciences, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) have announced a new partnership to educate the next generation of clinical researchers.   “From the advent of new technologies and continuous data streams to increasingly complex trial design, this is a time of tremendous opportunity for those of us at the intersection of medicine, science and technology,” said Medidata’s president Glen de Vries. “We’re proud to partner with UNCW and help train the next generation of clinical researchers, as they prepare to join the life sciences industry and help make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.”   As part of the three-year agreement, Medidata will provide UNCW with access to the Medidata Clinical Cloud® pro bono, equipping future leaders with cutting-edge technology and practical experience needed to excel in the field of clinical research and make a lasting impact on patient health. Beginning in the Fall 2016 semester, approximately 80 students enrolled in UNCW’s College of Health and Human Services’ Clinical Research program will be trained on Medidata’s platform annually.   UNCW students will use Medidata’s industry-leading solution for electronic data capture, management and reporting (Medidata Rave®) and Medidata’s eLearning platform, Medidata Academy. Using a mock study with fabricated patient data, students will learn to organize, collect, review, monitor and track data. Similar to professional Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) at more than 700 life sciences companies who use Medidata’s technology, the UNCW students will also leverage iMedidata®, a secure portal which provides unified access to all studies, eLearning courses and centralized user administration.   “This partnership will train UNCW clinical research students on some of the most advanced software available, enabling them to experience how what they learn in their coursework applies to situations involving actual patients and lab analysis,” said Kathy Browder, senior associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “The practical experience they receive will help them as they seek employment in this rapidly growing field.”   The partnership expands UNCW’s commitment to advancing clinical research and economic development in North Carolina. Last fall, the University received a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to establish UNCW's Clinical Research Workforce Development program, which includes curriculum enhancement, student fellowships and continuing education programs.   About UNCW The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to learning through the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and service. Guided by our strategic plan, the university is committed to nurturing a campus culture that reflects its values of diversity and globalization, ethics and integrity, and excellence and innovation. A public institution with more than 15,000 students, the university is focused on supporting and enhancing the student-centered learning experience that has been a hallmark since its founding in 1947. UNCW offers an array of programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels, and doctoral programs in marine biology, educational leadership, psychology and nursing practice.   About Medidata Medidata is reinventing global drug development by creating the industry's leading cloud-based solutions for clinical research. Through our advanced applications and intelligent data analytics, Medidata helps advance the scientific goals of life sciences customers worldwide, including more than 700 global pharmaceutical companies, innovative biotech, diagnostic and device firms, leading academic medical centers, and contract research organizations.   The Medidata Clinical Cloud® brings a new level of quality and efficiency to clinical trials that empower our customers to make more informed decisions earlier and faster. Our unparalleled clinical trial data assets provide deep insights that pave the way for future growth. The Medidata Clinical Cloud is the primary technology solution powering clinical trials for 17 of the world's top 25 global pharmaceutical companies, from study design and planning through execution, management and reporting.